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The easiest way I've found is to use ShellExecute: <a href="http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153.aspx" rel="ugc">http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153.aspx</a>
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The easiest way I've found is to use ShellExecute: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153.aspx [http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153.aspx]

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I want the user to type in the path of the file they want to open and have it run as if you double clicked it. &nbsp;This is in windowsXP.<br />
<br />
I know how to prompt the user and get the string they enter, but am having trouble with the opening part. &nbsp;I have tried WinExec and CreateProcess which seems to work for opening a specific application but not for taking a variable to point to a specific file. <br />
<br />
I would prefer the answer in C if it is possible. C++ if not.<br />
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Thank you<br />
<br />

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I want the user to type in the path of the file they want to open and have it run as if you double clicked it.  This is in windowsXP.

I know how to prompt the user and get the string they enter, but am having trouble with the opening part.  I have tried WinExec and CreateProcess which seems to work for opening a specific application but not for taking a variable to point to a specific file. 

I would prefer the answer in C if it is possible. C++ if not.

Thank you



How do I open any file in C or C++` in its native application?

C is a general-purpose, imperative computer programming language, supporting structured programming, lexical variable scope and recursion, while a static type system prevents many unintended operations. By design, C provides constructs that map efficiently to typical machine instructions, so it has found lasting use in applications that had formerly been coded in assembly language, including operating systems as well as various application software for computers ranging from supercomputers to embedded systems. It is distinct from C++ (which has its roots in C) and C#, and many later languages have borrowed directly or indirectly from C.

C++ is an intermediate-level general-purpose programming language, not to be confused with C or C#. It was developed as a set of extensions to the C programming language to improve type-safety and add support for automatic resource management, object-orientation, generic programming, and exception handling, among other features.